The White Sox have placed right-handed relief pitcher Jesse Crain on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 21. Crain has a strained left oblique. As a corresponding move, the White Sox recalled Dylan Axelrod. Crain, 30, was off to a real good start this season before the oblique injury. He has a 2.57 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 10 strikeouts with only one walk in seven innings. The only two runs he's allowed came on solo homers.
The White Sox are tied atop the AL Central with a 10-9 record, but closer Hector Santiago has struggled. Crain could have been one of the alternatives, but now manager Robin Ventura has to either stick with Santiago (as he's said he will) or go with Matt Thornton or Addison Reed.
Axelrod, 26, is 2-1 with a 1.08 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in Triple-A this season. Last year for the White Sox, he was 1-0 with a 2.89 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings pitched.
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